A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/720948
27 ARTICLE 16 RECOGNITION AND AWARDS PROGRAM Section 1. Management is encouraged to reward and/or recognize employees close to the time of the actual act that warrants recognition. The awards program should be active throughout the year and not just at the end of the performanc e appraisal cycle. The Employer agrees that Quality Step Increases (QSIs), monetary awards and non - monetary awards may be awarded to employees based on merit and performance of job duties and responsibilities. The Employer's recognition and awards progra ms shall not be used to discriminate among employees or to show favoritism. Guidance established in 5 CFR 451, DoD 1400.25M, and implementing instructions will be utilized as they relate to awards. Section 2. The Employer shall provide a detailed list and/or report of all monetary and time - off awards granted to BUEs to the Local Union President on a semi - annual basis. The Employer shall also provide this information at other times upon request. Additionally, upon written request from the Union, the ATC FO and/or a designee and the Union shall meet to review time - off awards granted to employees . Section 3. In addition to the recognition and awards referred to in section 1 of this Article, the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA), Publi c Law 101 - 509, provides Federal agencies authority to grant bargaining unit employees time - off from duty, without loss of pay or charge to leave, as an incentive award. Called time - off awards, this incentive may be used to encourage and award superior acc omplishment or other personal efforts that contribute to the quality, efficiency, or economy of government operations. a. Nature and Relationships to other Awards (1) Time - off Awards can be used alone or in conjunction with monetary or non - monetary awards. They are not intended to replace other awards. (2) As with other incentive awards, the Employer is required to give due weight to Time - Off Awards when rating an employee for promotion in accordance with 5 USC 3362, 5 CFR 451, and other applicable government - wide regulations. b. Eligibility. All Bargaining Unit employees are eligible to receive Time - Off Awards. c. Time - Off Awards are authorized for a variety of Employee contributions. The following ar e examples of Employee contributions that could merit a time - off award; they are not intended to be exhaustive, nor should they be interpreted to limit the Employer from expanding upon identifying criteria for granting time - off awards: (1) Ma king a high - quality contribution involving a difficult or important project or assignment; (2) Displaying special initiative and skill in completing an assignment or project before the deadline;